Sat., Dec. 10, 2016
3:00 PM ESTArmy vs. Navy FootballDon't miss one of the greatest events you can ever attend! The Army-Navy Game presented by USAA returns to M&T Bank Stadium on Saturday, December 10, 2016

Sat., Dec. 10, 2016
7:00 PM
- 7:30 PM ESTRavens ReportHosted by WUSA-TV's Kristen Berset, Ravens Report, the flagship program of the Baltimore Ravens that showcases life in the NFL. Created by Ravens Productions, this magazine-style show features behind-the-scenes access to Ravens players and coaches as they prepare for each week's opponent.

Sat., Dec. 10, 2016
7:30 PM
- 8:00 PM ESTRavens ReportSee the plays, hear the sideline conversations and feel the hits on Ravens Wired, the only behind-the-scenes show featuring a Ravens player wired for sound during each week's game. Go behind the Ravens bench for in-game adjustments and inside the locker room for Head Coach John Harbaugh's post-game speech. Produced by Ravens Productions, Ravens Wired is hosted by WBAL-TV's Keith Mills.

Mon., Dec. 12, 2016
8:30 PM ESTPurple Club Happy HourWhat's better than Happy Hour specials and Baltimore Ravens football? A Purple Club Happy Hour! Join the Purple club this season at various Buffalo Wild Wings locations to watch the Ravens on the road.

Mon., Dec. 12, 2016
11:45 PM ESTLivePost Game PresserJohn Harbaugh and key players will address the media following the game.

Sat., Dec. 17, 2016
7:00 PM
- 7:30 PM ESTRavens ReportHosted by WUSA-TV's Kristen Berset, Ravens Report, the flagship program of the Baltimore Ravens that showcases life in the NFL. Created by Ravens Productions, this magazine-style show features behind-the-scenes access to Ravens players and coaches as they prepare for each week's opponent.

Sat., Dec. 17, 2016
7:30 PM
- 8:00 PM ESTRavens ReportSee the plays, hear the sideline conversations and feel the hits on Ravens Wired, the only behind-the-scenes show featuring a Ravens player wired for sound during each week's game. Go behind the Ravens bench for in-game adjustments and inside the locker room for Head Coach John Harbaugh's post-game speech. Produced by Ravens Productions, Ravens Wired is hosted by WBAL-TV's Keith Mills.

Defense Needs Confidence In Crunch Time

The Ravens allowed 134 points in the fourth quarter, the most in team history.

Just how problematicwere the Ravens defense’s fourth-quarter performances this year?

“Not having the ability to get off the field cost us maybe three or four ball games this year,” General Manager Ozzie Newsome said during Wednesday’s “State of the Ravens” press conference.

The Ravens surrendered a franchise record 134 points in the fourth quarter. It’s more than the 130 points allowed in the fourth quarter in 1996, the Ravens' inaugural year. It’s also 52 more points than the Super Bowl XLVII winners gave up in the fourth quarter in 2012.

It burned them against Green Bay, in Pittsburgh, in Cleveland, in Chicago and against New England and Cincinnati to close out the season missing the playoffs.

So how do the Ravens fix it?

It’s tough to put a finger on a problem when the defense plays well for three quarters, but simply sputters at the end. Newsome cited three main ways to improve.

First, it begins with simply getting more out of what the Ravens already have. Overall improvement should lead to better results in all quarters.

Secondly, he feels the team needs a playmaker at free safety to play alongside strong safety Matt Elam, who played a bit out of position throughout 2013.

“When tipped balls are in the air, guys that can come away with that,” Newsome said.

Lastly, the unit simply needs to have the confidence to get the job done in crunch time. That is, perhaps, thetime when the loss of leaders and playmaking veterans Ray Lewis and Ed Reed was felt most.

The Ravens didn’t have the killer instinct that often takes time to develop.

“In order to be successful, you have to have confidence,” Newsome said.

“I think we’ve got to build a confidence amongst our defensive players that, in those situations, they can make a play and win the game. They don’t have to go out there and play tentative or scared. Go make the play; the other 10 guys have got your back. I think we’ll be able to get to that because it was a new mixture of guys. It was seven new guys on defense, so they had to get the cohesiveness going. You have to get to the point where you feel like you can make that play and get the defense off the field.”

The Ravens showed a glimmer of that when Elam made a game-ending interception in Detroit. Cornerback Chykie Brown defended a two-point conversion attempt against Pittsburgh as well.

But the Ravens need more plays like that to improve on defense in 2014.

Related Tags

Please Note

The opinions, analysis and/or speculation expressed on BaltimoreRavens.com represent those of individual authors, and unless quoted or clearly labeled as such, do not represent the opinions or policies of the Baltimore Ravens' organization, front office staff, coaches and executives. Authors' views are formulated independently from any inside knowledge and/or conversations with Ravens officials, including the coaches and scouts, unless otherwise noted.